Monthly Archive

They might laugh, but then they change their tune….part 2 of 2

Second day of his tournament that Ten’s team won yesterday, we had this convo on the way home:

Ten: “That wrap is soooooo good. All the guys on the team ask me if they can have some.”

Me: “Yeah. You know how you always think if you have healthy food people will make fun of you? Sometimes, though……”

Ten: “….they want it!”

We both laugh. It’s so true. (And the next day I buy that veggie wrap for one of the other boys and his coach. I love taking really delicious things that happen to be good for you, to people I like. They are always so surprised when nutritious food is delicious!)

It’s such an easy target, to make fun of the green drink, or the veggie this-or-that. It’s a way to use humor to distance ourselves from the guilt. (If I’m eating a veggie wrap, I’m not trying to make a statement about your potato chips, or be superior, I promise! But people think so, don’t they?)

It’s just mindless, making fun of someone who is eating really healthy when you’re not. So don’t take it personally.

Those same exact people will come out from behind that humor-shield, maybe even tomorrow–or next year when they’re sick of what potato chips have done to them–and ask you for some help, guidance, and encouragement towards better ideas of what to eat.

I know this only because I’ve seen it so many times. Long ago, I had a 40-something co-worker who ate fast food 3 meals a day. The only vegetables she ate were potatoes and corn. She was 200 lbs. overweight and always maxed her sick time and then had to find other, sneaky ways to stay home from work.

I quit and went to another job and saw her after a long period of time, and she was much thinner and healthier. I asked what happened and she said, “I suddenly lost my interest in food. It was like, I’ve been eating this slop for decades and it’s just not that interesting anymore.”

Even the hardcore junk foodies who make all the cracks about what you brought to work? There are days when the beautiful reds, yellows, and greens of your food look kind of magical to them, and they’ll feel tempted.

You just laugh with them when they make their jokes. Then keep eating it. Then show up for your friends when they’re ready.

About Robyn

Robyn Openshaw is the author or editor of 14 titles, including the bestselling book The Green Smoothies Diet, the children's book, The Adventures of Junk Food Dude, and the course 12 Steps to Whole Foods. She’s passionate about overthrowing the Standard American Diet by teaching people to eat more whole foods easily, inexpensively, and deliciously. She’s the mom of 4 competitive athletes as well as a runner, cyclist, skier, and competitive tennis player. She travels all over the world speaking to sold-out audiences and studying non-toxic cancer treatment for her next project.

That is all just so true isn’t it? I have a co-worker who is also a dear friend and I think she was even a little mad at me when I began my 12-Steps journey. We were eating buddies. She refused to talk about any of it and so I just never did either but we eat lunch together nearly every day. I have watched her food choices slowly change and improve and after your class last week in Boise……although she refused to attend…….she did ask me a lot of questions about it. I think it is like so many other worthwhile things in this life……..we have to walk the talk and be good examples and when people are ready……………we are willing to share and to help them just like you have helped us Robyn!

Ah, Kala…..looks like we’re coming back in September…..maybe by then? You know Kristin’s quote, “I think I’ve accidentally become vegetarian!” just from working at my house every day and traveling with me so many weekends!

I’ve had a recent significant breakthrough with my carnivore hubby. We now do ‘Meatless Tuesday and Thursday’ dinners. Last night’s was a big ol’ salad, and he DIDN’T cover it with four tbls of Bob’s Big Boy Bleu Cheese dressing, but had my ‘healthy stuff’ instead. Major. I think things changed when I said to him a week or so ago ‘You are the Captain of your Ship – the Eater of your Destiny.’ Hubby a couple days later: ‘The Eater of my Destiny, eh?” Yup. He’d been mulling it over. It’s like a switch got flipped.

The kale furniture hasn’t been moved in, yet, but the door is definitley open a little bit wider than it was two weeks ago.

Robyn! I love this post! Its been so hard lately. You know my son is ready small, underweight etc and all my family gangs up on me about how i need to plump him up and that means half and half and milkshakes, candy etc….i tell them I’m protecting him and want him to eat healthy . They all say well u can be healthy but when his weight is an issue you gotta change. I hate feeling like I’m doing something wrong! I guess they can stock with their ways and I just gotta suck it up!

I’m shocked! My husband is actually BEGGING for a green smoothie every morning! After one week of having a green smoothie every day, the past 3 days I haven’t needed an afternoon nap. I could pretend I’ve only been napping 3 hours every afternoon since having my baby in May, but it’s been that way since I was like 18 (23 now). So, the fact that I’m not needing naps, and I’m on night-duty with my baby every night because I nurse, that’s pretty stinking amazing!

I read your entire blog over the past two weeks, it has been really nice to have something to look at & read while I have to be sitting anyways.

I was wondering if the meal-planner is going to be included with the 12 steps, or is it a separate purchase? Also, is it a program? an App? (an App with a shopping list/pantry list would be AMAAAZINNG! I’ve tried over and over to figure out healthy recipes this year and to put it all into a menu-planner app that would simplify my shopping too, but I keep trying recipes that turn out terribly, so I scrap the whole project over and over.)

Ok, also… thanks for encouraging us to be healthy, and to stay sane! Every time in the past I’ve ever wanted to go raw, or drink green smoothies there were always so many things that made me feel like it was “all or nothing”, whether I had to be 100% raw, or 100% organic, either way – I can’t do 100%, but that doesn’t mean my 80% or even less isn’t still a good choice. It’s also nice that you’ve said we’ll probably survive if we don’t rotate the greens quite as well as we should, I really hate most of them, but I feel like I can always fall back on spinach if I just don’t think I can stomach any other ones on a particular day, and that’s nice. It doesn’t turn into this overwhelming and huge thing I can’t do, when I keep a more balanced “some is better than none,” perspective.

Whitney, making it an app…..great idea. I’ll have to think about that! Congrats on the baby, and I’m glad you’re getting the energy back that formerly went to naps….that was the first thing that happened to me, too.

I could really use some ideas of those raw fats you are talking about as I have a very underweight teenager(not anorexic, but just could care less about it and goes until she is very hungry before eating) She is also quite picky. Help!

Example is the most powerful, especially if your example includes NOT giving them a hard time for eating un-healthy but just munching your carrot sticks with a smile. I love the curiosity factor; how they just have to taste that thick green stuff I’m drinking. The hard part is when I make a “serious” smoothie that anyone not drinking greens on a regular basis would gag at, but I love now. My response, “let me bring you smoothie tomorrow” and I make them one with lots of fruit and spinach instead of kale, collard, and chard with tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, and ginger.

Patti: a homemade granola w/ nuts, seeds, unsweetened coconut flakes, and a variety of rolled grains (oats, spelt, rye) works wonders for an underweight teen. Not only is it healthy breakfast fair with fruit and yogurt, but it’s easily packable so she can always have some with her. Also, look for recipes for homemade energy bars! Adding avocado to a smoothie everyday is easy and pretty tasty! It’s much easier to work with a teen who doesn’t have a fixation on food than one with an addiction to junk food, so count your blessings!

I just pack a Fage yogurt with honey into my nephews’ lunch boxes whenever they spend the weekend, since they go to school directly from my house monday morning. I wasn’t sure they’d like it, but they do! Now that’s a breakfast…

The contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Robyn Openshaw. Nothing herein is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This website is a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Robyn and should not be construed as medical advice. Robyn encourages you to make your own health and nutrition decisions based upon your research and in partnership with your own qualified professionals.

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